SEPANG: Malaysia Airlines is about the nation and many of the troubles the national carrier has faced were caused by a previous leader, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

"The history of Malaysia Airlines is fraught with horrendous decisions, and it was a nightmare inflicted on the airline by one of my predecessors," he said.

He declined to elaborate, but was believed to be referring to former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has since joined the Opposition.

"But I will make sure that Malaysia Airlines recovers," Najib said at the unveiling ceremony of the airline's 'Negaraku' livery on a B737-800, in conjunction with parent company Malaysia Aviation Group's Hari Raya gathering at the Malaysia Airlines Engineering Complex here Monday.